The Emergency Management and Planning associate degree program is designed for individuals who are seeking careers that are related to management of emergency and catastrophic situations that are accidental, provoked or natural disasters. The primary focus of the program is to provide an educational vehicle and skill set for professionals such as Emergency Managers, Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers or Medical or Allied Health personnel to approach emergency situations in a uniform fashion. The technical core of the program focuses on the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage and mitigate emergency and disaster incidents. Individuals employed in the private sector as safety officers or security professionals can also develop and strengthen their skills and effectiveness by completing this program. The competencies and course content has been developed with significant consideration of the coursework developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state emergency management agencies and local emergency planning committees.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

Implement principles and best practices in incident management.

Develop plans and procedures for dealing with various emergency situations.

Identify the dangers associated with various emergency situations and apply the proper safety procedures for oneself and the public at large.

Recognize the role of first responders in emergency situations.

Explain the psychology of terrorism. Implement appropriate procedures in dealing with terrorism threats and incidents.